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28 July 2008

With the exception of future Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan, Mats Sundin (the ponderous one), Joe Sakic and Teemu Selanne, all the big-name free agents have been snapped up, and the complexion of the vast majority of NHL teams is well-established heading into the dog days of summer.

I can easily see a rematch of the finals this year again.

Here's a look at our Summer Power Rankings with less than two months to go before the start of training camp:

2. Montreal CanadiensMany folks will pick the Habs to win the East next season, but Carey Price will have to prove he's over this spring's playoff meltdown before we hop on that train. Sundin will make that bandwagon pretty crowded if he signs on with the Habs.

5. Washington CapitalsOK, the defense is still a little suspect and there's Jose Theodore in net, but this Caps team can light it up with any team in the league.

6. New Jersey DevilsWe put the Devils here because they're always better than we expect they'll be. This will be true again with the addition of Brian Rolston and the continued growth of an underappreciated blue-line corps.

7. Carolina HurricanesYes, the Hurricanes have missed the playoffs twice in a row after winning the Cup in 2006, but they missed the cut by a single point this spring and have improved themselves along the blue line with the addition of Joni Pitkanen. If healthy, they're a playoff team.

I think this is a bit lofty for the last place Lightning. They have unproven stars in their lineup right now, but if those stars shine, they just might hit this target.

9. Buffalo SabresThe Sabres inked netminder Ryan Miller to a long-term deal and added stabilizing force on the blue line with Craig Rivet. Veteran defenseman Teppo Numminen likely will return to help a talented young lineup, which took a step backward in missing the playoffs this past season.

10. Ottawa SenatorsThe Senators have devolved quickly from a Stanley Cup finalist in 2007 into a one-line team with ordinary goaltending.

12. Florida PanthersStill waiting for the Panthers to realize their potential. Maybe rookie coach Pete DeBoer can manage to make that happen. Or not.

13. Toronto Maple LeafsLittle to recommend on the Leafs up front with the departures of Darcy Tucker (bought out), captain Sundin (we assume) and Kyle Wellwood. Defense is actually better than people think. But not much.

15. Atlanta ThrashersThe Thrashers, Leafs and Isles look to be in a heated battle for the No. 1 pick in next summer's draft and the chance to land super prospect John Tavares. That's about as good as it gets for the Thrashers, whose spotty lineup promises to make rookie coach John Anderson's first season a long one.

I think this could be the team to beat definitely and without a doubt.

2. San Jose SharksHo hum, another offseason of heightened expectation in San Jose with blue-chip puck-moving defenseman Dan Boyle playing the role previously held by Brian Campbell. Rob Blake will be a welcome addition, although the Sharks are suddenly looking less and less youthful and more and more old and desperate. Not a bad thing, but different.

3. Dallas StarsStars are deep down the middle, have a nice collection of emerging defensemen and a bona fide leader in Brenden Morrow, and added a nice agitating touch in Sean Avery. Did they overachieve in advancing to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2000? We don't think so.

4. Anaheim DucksStill a formidable lineup from the goal on out, but the Ducks slipped offensively last season. Brendan Morrison will help bring much-needed depth down the middle and could possibly line up with Selanne if the Finnish Flash ever gets off his couch and makes a decision about his future.

5. Edmonton OilersThere isn't much to separate about 10 teams in the middle of the conference pack, and the Oilers, who missed the playoffs by a scant three points after a late-season surge, have improved their back end with the addition of Lubomir Visnovsky and their talented young forward corps with the addition of Erik Cole.

6. Chicago BlackhawksLike the Oilers, the Blackhawks finished three points out of the last playoff berth and added two big pieces to what should be their playoff puzzle. In Chicago, it's puck-moving defenseman Campbell and steady netminder Cristobal Huet. With rookie of the year Patrick Kane and new captain Jonathan Toews maturing, this is a team ready to take a big jump.

8. Nashville PredatorsThe Predators boast one of the best young defensive lineups in the league and are well-coached. They score by committee, but don't score quite enough and will miss Alexander Radulov if he can't be repatriated from Russia.

9. Minnesota WildIt doesn't take much to take a slide in the Northwest Division, and the Wild have moved sideways at best and might have taken a step back with the loss of Rolston and Pavol Demitra. Then there's the uncertainty surrounding Marian Gaborik, who can become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the coming season.

11. Phoenix CoyotesThe Coyotes now have the big center they've been lacking in Olli Jokinen, but they still don't have enough scoring and they're going to miss Keith Ballard along the blue line and in the dressing room.

12. Vancouver CanucksThis ranking would change if Sundin decides $20 million over two years is enough incentive to pack up and head west. If not, the Canucks are overmatched offensively by pretty much every other team in the conference.

13. Colorado AvalancheDid we mention it's a short trip from the top to the bottom in the Northwest? And with the goaltending duties now split between Peter Budaj and Andrew Raycroft and captain Sakic's return uncertain, the Avs are poised for a big step backward.

14. St. Louis BluesSt. Louis has a fine collection of defensemen, but special teams and offense are wanting. After looking as though they were ready to get back in the playoff hunt two seasons ago, the Blues have been lapped by their Central Division colleagues.

15. Los Angeles KingsA familiar place for the perpetually rebuilding Kings, who remain two or three years from contending for a playoff berth.

Scott Burnside is the NHL writer for ESPN.com.

I am sure this assessment will change a hundred times in the coming months, but it is a great starting point.

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